All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.
Parallel translations
- WEB “All that opens the womb is mine; and all your livestock that is male, the firstborn of cow and sheep.
- BSB The first offspring of every womb belongs to Me, including all the firstborn males among your livestock, whether cattle or sheep.
- NKJV “All that open the womb are Mine, and every male firstborn among your livestock, whether ox or sheep.
- NASB “The firstborn from every womb belongs to Me, and all your male livestock, the firstborn from cattle and sheep.
- NLT “The firstborn of every animal belongs to me, including the firstborn males from your herds of cattle and your flocks of sheep and goats.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Every firstborn male, human and animal, belongs to the LORD as His special possession.
Overview
Because God spared Israel's firstborn in the final plague, the firstborn now belong to Him by right of redemption. This claim on what opens the womb taught that life and blessing come from God and must be given back to Him. It points forward to Christ, the firstborn over all creation, who consecrates His people to God (Colossians 1:15-18).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Exod 13:2Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
- Exod 22:29Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
- Num 18:15–17Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
- Exod 13:12That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’s.
- Ezek 44:30And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest’s: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.
- Luke 2:23(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 34:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.